Y​ou may have heard that warm lemon water will get those pipes working in the morning and optimize your health. But, have you heard of warm lemon water combined with honey, cinnamon, and turmeric? All-natural lemon and turmeric are powerful ingredients that boast a wealth of beneficial properties. ​

​Authors of a study published in the Chemistry Central Journal (2015) reported that lemons contain an abundance of natural metabolites. “Citrus fruits exhibit plentiful bioactivities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antimicrobial and anti-allergy activities, as well as cardiovascular effect, neuro-protective effect, obesity control, etc.” However, when you couple lemon with turmeric, your health, and wellness benefits are magnified.

​Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a yellow-orange spice that is part of the ginger family. Native to tropical South Asia, turmeric is well known in traditional Asian medicine and cuisine. More recently, its health benefits have been recognized in Western medicine. According to a study published in the Journal of Nephropathology (2012), “Turmeric, might re-emerge as a remedy and/or preventive tool for various illnesses including different type of cancers, obesity, type-2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, CKD [chronic kidney disease] and ESRD [end stage renal disease].” One active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, has been the focus of several academic studies.

Curcumin: According to research from the Department of Stomatology at the University of California, San Francisco, curcumin possesses anti-inflammatory properties. The research, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that curcumin, “may exert its anti-inflammatory activity by inhibition of a number of different molecules that play a role in inflammation. Previous research has highlighted curcumin’s antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumor properties.”

Turmeric with its main active ingredient, curcumin, maybe that one healthy addition to your morning routine you’ve been looking for.

Tumeric and Lemon Morning ElixirJuice of 1/2 a lemon1/4 - 1/2 tsp tumeric1/2 tsp honey1/4 tsp Cinnamon Powder1 Cup warm water or milk​ Mix the lemon juice, turmeric, and honey in your cup of warm water or milk. Stir these ingredients well. Add cinnamon on top and continue to stir your morning elixir as you drink it — to ensure that the turmeric does not settle at the bottom of your cup.